Agenda item

Jo Moxon, Interim Director of Education, introduced a report that set out the new Centrally Retained Budget for 2017-18 and sought agreement to the proposed allocations as at Appendix A to the report.  It was noted that some of the proposed allocations were only from April to September 2017. The report was considered in conjunction with the next item on ESG which would be transferred into the School Block from 2017-18 following legislative changes.

The proposals reflected the changes to the delivery of school improvement functions following the return of services to the Council from Cambridge Education in December 2016.  The centrally retained budget had decreased from £1,283,706 for 2016-17 to £723,598 for 2017-18.  The key items were reviewed including:

·  Schools Forum budget;

·  Virtual School;

·  School Admissions;

·  School Improvement Support;

·  Education, School Improvement and Raising Standards; and

·  Safeguarding Children Board.

The Forum discussed a number of items including the support for the Teaching School Alliance which would help strengthen relationships and partnerships and potentially unlock additional resources from the new national funding streams (Schools Improvement Grant).

After considering the proposals in conjunction with the following paper on ESG, the Schools Forum agreed the centrally held School Block DSG items as set out in Appendix A to the report.